Let’s Take A Moment Day 506

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Hi everyone. Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing. But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

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I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

On August 3, 1968 The Doors hit the #1 spot in the country for the first of two consecutive weeks with today’s song. It was the second top selling song of their short career after “Light My Fire” hit the top of the chart the year before. From the release of their self-titled debut in January 1967 to their 1971 album L.A. Woman released three months before Jim Morrison’s untimely death, The Doors were one of the most brilliant, dynamic and unstoppable forces in music.

“Sidewalk crouches at her feet
Like a dog that begs for something sweet
Do you hope to make her see, you fool
Do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel“.

The Doors circa 1968 (L-R): John Densmore, Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Doors: “Hello I Love You” (1968, written by The Doors: John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

3Aug2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 505

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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Today the man born Anthony Dominick Benedetto turns 95 years young. The legendary performer better known by his stage name, Tony Bennett, was born on August 3, 1926 in Queens, NY. Frank Sinatra called him “the best singer in the business”. Pretty hard to argue with the Chairman Of The Board. Bennett released today’s song, his signature tune, in February of 1962. Nearly 60 years later, it remains as timeless as the singer himself. Here’s to 100 more birthdays for the great Tony Bennett.

“The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly grey
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I’ve been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I’m going home to my city by the Bay“.

Top: Tony Bennett circa 1964. Bottom: Bennett circa 2004. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Tony Bennett: “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” (1962, written by George C. Cory Jr. and Douglass Cross).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

2Aug2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 504

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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On Aug 1, 1985 Tom Waits released one of his most innovative albums, Rain Dogs. And one of his biggest fans, Rolling Stone Keith Richards, played guitar on three songs & sang back-up on one. Today’s pick is one of the more well known tracks from the record.

Rod Stewart released his own fabulous version in 1989 and it reached the #3 spot on the chart the following year. If you were a fan of the show “How I Met Your Mother” you might remember this song in the finale done in a slower more somber tone by Everything But The Girl. But as a huge fan of Waits, I love his original take the best.

“Outside another yellow moon
Has punched a hole in the night time mist
I climb through the window and down to the street
I’m shining like a new dime“

The back cover of Tom Waits 1985 album, Rain Dogs. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Tom Waits: “Downtown Train” (1985, written by Tom Waits).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

1Aug2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 503

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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Forty years ago today TV became all about the music. MTV premiered on Aug 1, 1981 and suddenly our homes were the best seats in the house for great music. Of course, there were plenty of terrible songs with terrible videos to go around as well but by the end of the decade, the music video was mostly a masterful work of art.

One of my favorite things about MTV was the “Unplugged” series which made its debut in 1989. There is such an elegance to acoustic music & the powers that be at the video channel saw that and turned it into an award winning franchise. Many artists had huge live records courtesy of these shows, especially Eric Clapton. His 1992 album won 3 Grammy Awards and became the best selling album of his career.

Many of my other favorite artists participated in the series, too, including Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Tony Bennett and Rod Stewart. His 1993 Unplugged…And Seated album produced several hits including today’s song. It was originally released 50 years ago on his 1971 album Every Picture Tells A Story. His old “Faces’ bandmate, Ron Wood, played on that album with him & was seated to Stewart’s right during the MTV performance. It was a great testament to both music & friendship all wrapped up into one fabulous show.

“If I gave you time to change my mind
I’d find a way just to leave the past behind
Knowing that you lied straight faced while I cried
Still I look to find a reason to believe”.

Rod Stewart’s 1993 album, Unplugged…And Seated. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Rod Stewart: “Reason To Believe” (recorded live during “Unplugged…And Seated, February 1993 & released May 1993. Originally recorded in 1971. Written by Tim Hardin).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

31Jul2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 502

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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1971 was without a doubt the greatest year of Carole King’s career. Not only was her monumental album, Tapestry, a huge smash but so was the first single. The double sided hit of “I Feel The Earth Move” & “It’s Too Late” (Day 460) was in the #1 spot for five weeks that summer.

Two weeks after that triumph, another one of her songs recorded by one of her friends hit the top of the chart as well.. On July 31, 1971 James Taylor had the #1 record in the country for one week with today’s track. King’s original recording is on her groundbreaking album, but it became one of Taylor’s signature songs. And that all started 50 years ago today.

“You just call out my name
And you know, wherever I am
I’ll come running
To see you again“.

American singer-songwriters James Taylor and Carole King. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Top (L-R): James Taylor and Carole King circa 1970. Bottom (L-R): Taylor and King in 2010. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

James Taylor: “You’ve Got A Friend” (1971, written by Carole King).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

30Jul2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 501

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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Tomorrow marks the 98th birth anniversary for a man who introduced us to some of the greatest artists in music history. Ahmet Ertegun, president and co-founder of Atlantic Records, was born on July 31, 1923 in Istanbul, Turkey. He was the man who launched the careers of John Coltrane, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Otis Redding, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.

I cannot imagine my life or this world without the likes of Redding, Clapton or Franklin, let alone the rest of that group. But to choose a way to salute the man we remember today comes down to one word: genius. And no one comes closer to that word than Ray Charles. Thank you, Ahmet Ertegun, for bringing us some of the most profound music of the 20th century.

“She saves her loving, just for me
Always loves me, so tenderly
I got a woman, way over town
She’s good to me, oh yeah“.

Top (L-R): Ray Charles and Ahmet Ertegun circa 1956. Bottom (L-R): Charles and Ertegun circa 2002. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Ray Charles: “I Got A Woman” (1954, written by Ray Charles and Renald Richard)

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

29Jul2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 500

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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July 13th marked the 36th anniversary of the Live Aid benefit concerts. Elton John performed today’s song at the event’s UK show with George Michael and it was a great success. As much as I appreciated that version, nothing compares to the original for me.

“I can’t find the right romantic line
But see me once and see the way I feel
Don’t discard me just because you think I mean you harm
But these cuts I have they need love to help them heal“.

Elton John performing at Live Aid, July 1985. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Elton John: “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” (1974, written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

28Jul2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 499

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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Today’s song was a Top Ten hit from the wondrous musical year of 1978. It was co-produced by Lindsey Buckingham who also played guitar on the track. He contributed background vocals as well as did his Fleetwood Mac bandmate, Stevie Nicks. She supposedly served as the inspiration for the song. It is considered to be a one hit wonder of the 1970’s and one of my all time favorites in that category.

“I can’t hope that I’ll hold you for long
‘Cause you’re a woman who’s lost to your song
But the love that I feel is so strong
And it can’t be wrong”.

(L-R): Stevie Nicks, Walter Egan and Lindsey Buckingham circa 1978. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Walter Egan: “Magnet And Steel” (1978, written by Walter Egan).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

27Jul2021

Let’s Tale A Moment Day 498

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

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Fifty five years ago the first supergroup was born. Former Yardbird Eric Clapton joined forces with drummer Ginger Baker and bassist Jack Bruce from the Graham Bond Organization to form the band Cream on July 16, 1966. They would stay together for only three years mostly due to the incessant fighting between Baker and Bruce.

But in that time they released four albums together and redefined what live music sounded like. Those performances consisted of the band playing what they felt rather than what they were supposed to. Today’s song is a perfect example of that improvisational magic. They took an old blues song, fused it together with their own sound and turned it into nothing short of sheer excellence.

“Going down to Rosedale
Take my rider by my side
You can still barrelhouse, baby
On the riverside“.

Top: Cream’s 1968 album Wheels Of Fire. Bottom: Cream circa 1968 (L-R): Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Cream: “Crossroads” (1968, written by Eric Clapton and Robert Johnson).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

26Jul2021

Let’s Take A Moment Day 497

Posted in Music by Michele at Lilacs & Rust

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Mick Jagger was born on July 26, 1943 in England making today his 78th birthday. He & the rest of his bandmates in The Rolling Stones have been making music together for nearly 60 years. In that time Jagger has established himself as one of the most recognizable & iconic lead singers of all time.

Today’s song is from the band’s 1966 album, Aftermath. It was released with two slightly different song listings for both a US & UK edition. It was the group’s first record to have all original songs written by Jagger & Keith Richards including “Mother’s Little Helper”, “Under My Thumb” and “Paint It Black”. But I consider today’s track to be my favorite. Here’s to 100 more birthdays for Sir Michael Philip Jagger.

“The girl who wants to run away
Discovers that she’s had her day
It’s no good your thinking that you are still mine
You’re out of touch my baby“.

Top: The Rolling Stones circa 1965 clockwise from lower left: Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman. Bottom: Jagger circa 2010. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The Rolling Stones: “Out Of Time” (1966, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards).

I do not own the rights to anything. I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.

	Music Monday: May 11… on Let’s Take A Moment Day…
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	Music Monday: April… on Let’s Take A Moment Day…
	Music Monday: March… on Music Monday: August 19, …

Lilacs & Rust

Music & makeovers! I swoon for chippy paint, a gorgeous patina and a fabulous song!!! I love great music (read: Bruce Springsteen & Otis Redding), white lilacs, walking in freshly fallen snow, the Golden Girls, road trips and the fall!!!

Author Archives: Michele at Lilacs & Rust

Let’s Take A Moment Day 506

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The Doors circa 1968 (L-R): John Densmore, Jim Morrison, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 505

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 504

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

The back cover of Tom Waits 1985 album, Rain Dogs. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 503

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Let’s Take A Moment Day 502

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Top (L-R): James Taylor and Carole King circa 1970. Bottom (L-R): Taylor and King in 2010. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 501

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Top (L-R): Ray Charles and Ahmet Ertegun circa 1956. Bottom (L-R): Charles and Ertegun circa 2002. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 500

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Elton John performing at Live Aid, July 1985. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 499

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

(L-R): Stevie Nicks, Walter Egan and Lindsey Buckingham circa 1978. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Tale A Moment Day 498

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Top: Cream’s 1968 album Wheels Of Fire. Bottom: Cream circa 1968 (L-R): Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Let’s Take A Moment Day 497

(Image found online. Original source unknown.)